Ring puzzle with changeable number of rings

ABSTRACT

A puzzle having a plurality of identical rings each of which is connected to a base by a support which is rotatably and longitudinally movable in the base with the support for each ring except for the last ring in the series being secured to the base through the inside of the next adjacent ring and an engaging member having two sides generally parallel and spaced a distance apart less than the inside diameter of the ring and joined together at least at one end whereby manipulation of the rings and engaging member can be performed to insert the engaging members through all of the rings and removed therefrom. The supports are individually releasably connected to the base so that the number of rings, and hence the difficulty of the puzzle, may be changed at will.

United States Patent Jones [451 7 Dec. 19,1972

[54] RING PUZZLE WITH CHANGEABLE NUMBER OF RINGS lflvemofi Henry F. Jones 29l8 Orleander Dr.,

Pasadena, Tex. 77503 [22] Filed: July 22, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 165,155

PrimaryExaminer-Anton O. Oechsle Aztorney-.lames F. Weiler et al.

[ 57] ABSTRACT A puzzle having a plurality of identical rings each of which is connected to a base by a support which is rotatably and longitudinally movable in the base with the support for each ring except for the last ring in the series being secured to the base through the inside of the next adjacent ring and an engaging member having two sides generally parallel and spaced a distance apart less than the inside diameter of the ring and joined together at least at one end whereby manipulation of the rings and engaging member can be performed to insert the engaging members through all of the rings and removed therefrom. The supports are individually releasably connected to the base so that the number of rings, and hence the difficulty of the puzzle, may be changed at will.

2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PKTE'N'TEI] um 19 m2 Henry /'T (fa/7a:

INVENTOR.

ll I" I N I Z AffOF/VEKY RING PUZZLE WITH CHANGEABLE NUMBER OF RINGS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a manipulative puzzle having a plurality of linearly aligned identical rings which are attached to a base through individual supports which are secured to the base through the inside of the next adjacent ring except for the last ring, and an enclosed engaging member whereby the rings and engaging member may be manipulated relative to each other for engagement and disengagement of the engaging member through the inside of all of the rings to provide diversion and entertainment as well as testing the logical skill and dexterity of the operator.

As the difficulty of operation depends upon the number of rings, the desired number of rings may be used depending upon the maturity and age of the player.

The difficulty of operation may be adjusted by suitably adding or reducing the number or rings thereby adjusting the skill required to manipulate and work the puzzle.

SUMMARY The present invention is directed to a plurality of identical rings or loops, each ring attached to a base by a support which is rotatably and longitudinally movable in the base to allow manipulation of the rings. The rings are interconnected by securing the support for each ring, except for the last ring, to the base through the inside of the next adjacent ring. An enclosed engaging member having two sides generally parallel but spaced apart a distance less than the inside diameter of the ring is provided whereby the engaging member may pass through the inside of the rings. The diameter of the cross section of the rings is less than the inside of the engaging member whereby the rings may pass through the inside of the engaging member. Entertainment and a test of skill is provided in interconnecting the engaging member through all of the rings and disengaging the engaging member from all of the rings.

Yet a further feature of the present invention is the provision of means for disconnecting one or more of the rings from the base to reduce or add to the difiiculty of operation of the puzzle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the present invention shown with the enclosed engaging member disconnected from the rings,

' FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the present invention shown with the engaging member shown in position inside all of the rings, and

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 3, the puzzle of the present invention is generally referred to by the reference numeral and includes a plurality of identical loops or rings here shown as rings l2, l4, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26 and 28 attached to a base 30 by means of supports 32, 34, 36,

38, 40, 42, 44, 46 and 48, and an engaging member 50. The difficulty of actuation of the puzzle 10 depends upon the number of rings, and while here shown as being nine in number, can be made of any desired number depending upon the age and maturity of the operator; Thus, the difficulty of operation of the puzzle 10 can be suitably adjusted by providing the desired number of rings. Each of the supports 32-48 is rotatably and longitudinally movable in the base 30 by means of suitable holes which allow limited movement of the rings 12-28 and their manipulation relative to the engaging member 50 and each other. Thus, referring to FIG. 3, supports 44, 46 and 48 pass through enlarged holes 52, 54, and 56, respectively, and the remainder of the supports 32-42 pass through similar holes. It is also noted from FIG. 3 that the upper end of the supports 32-48 are slidably attached to their attached rings 12-28, respectively, thereby allowing flexibility of manipulation as the plane of the rings will during manipulationbe required to be positioned generally perpendicular as well as parallel to the base 30.

Referring to FIG. 3, the lower ends of the supports 32-48 may be releasably secured to the base 30 such as by nuts screwed thereon such as nuts 58, 60 and 62 secured to the supports 44, 46 and 48, respectively, with the other supports 3242 being similarly secured. Thus, if desired, any desired number of rings '12-28 may be removed or added to the base 30 to increase or decrease the difficulty of operation of the puzzle 10.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, it is noted that the support for each loop, except for the last loop 28, is secured to the base 30 through the inside of the next adjacent loop. For example, the support 32 of loop 12 is secured to the base 30 through the inside of next adjacent loop 14, thereby interconnecting the rings to each other and requiring their manipulation in a predetermined and logical sequence for engaging and disengaging them from the engaging member 50.

The engaging member 50 is an enclosed elongate loop having two sides and 72 generally parallel to each other but spaced a distance apart less than the inside diameter of the rings 1228 whereby the engaging member 50 may pass through the interior of the rings l2-28. The engaging member 50 includes a closed end 74 at one end and preferably a closed end 76 at the second end forming a working handle. The inside of the engaging member 50 is of sufficient width compared to the cross-sectional area of the loops 12-28 whereby the rings may pass therethrough when they are suitably positioned to the plane of the loop 50.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the puzzle 10 of the present invention is shown in the fully engaged position and is worked by manipulating engaging member 50 and rings 12-28 for disengaging member 50 therefrom. Thus, member 50 may be withdrawn from ring 12 by longitudinal movement but would be stopped when the end 74 thereof engaged the support 32. However, on withdrawing loop 50 from the ring 12 the ring 12 is turned generally vertically and dropped through the interior of the engaging member 50 thereby allowing the engaging member 50 to bypass support 32 and be further withdrawn up to the support 34. At this point in the working of the puzzle 10, the third ring 16 is raised and dropped through the interior of the loop 50. Loop 50 is then reinserted into ring 14 and ring 12 is carried l060ll 0030 back throughvthe interior of ring 50 into its original position. Engaging member 50 is withdrawn from ring 12 and ring 14 is raised around the outer end 74 of the engaging member 50 and dropped through the interior of the engaging member 50 thereby carrying support 34 out of the path of travel of member 50. Ring 12 is again dropped through the interior of engaging member 50 and now engaging member 50 is disconnected from rings l2, l4 and 16 and the removal process may continue in sequence until the engaging loop 50 is totally disengaged from all of the rings. Engaging member 50 is reengaged with the rings 12-28 by reversal of the method of operation;

Thus, the puzzle of the present invention will provide entertainment and pleasure and will test the skill, dexterity and logic of the player and the difficulty of operation may be increased or decreased by adding or subtracting rings.

The present invention, therefore, is well adapted to carry out the objects and attain the ends and advantages mentioned as well as others inherent therein. While a presently preferred embodiment of the invention has been given for the purpose of disclosure, numerous changes in the detail of construction and arrangement of parts may be made which will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A puzzle comprising,

'a base,

a plurality of enclosed loops,

a support holding each loop to the base, the support for each loop except for the last loop secured to the base through the inside of the next adjacent loop, I

means releasably connecting said supports to said base whereby the number of loops attached to said base may be changed, and I an engaging member having two sides generally parallel but spaced apart a distance less than the inside diameter of the loops and joined together at least at one end.

2. A puzzle comprising,

a base,

a plurality of identical rings,

an elongate support attaching each ring to the base, each support being rotatably and longitudinally movable in the base, and slidably holding a ring, the support for each ring except for the last ring being secured to the base through the inside of the next adjacent ring,

means releasably connecting said supports to said base whereby the number of rings attached to said base may be changed, and

an enclosed engaging member having two elongate sides generally parallel but spaced apart a distance less than the inside diameter of the rings and which can be inserted through all of the rings and disengaged by manipulation of the rings and engaging member. 

1. A puzzle comprising, a base, a plurality of enclosed loops, a support holding each loop to the base, the support for each loop except for the last loop secured to the base through the inside of the next adjacent loop, means releasably connecting said supports to said base whereby the number of loops attached to said base may be changed, and an engaging member having two sides generally parallel but spaced apart a distance less than the inside diameter of the loops and joined together at least at one end.
 2. A puzzle comprising, a base, a plurality of identical rings, an elongate support attaching each ring to the base, each support being rotatably and longitudinally movable in the base, and slidably holding a ring, the support for each ring except for the last ring being secured to the base through the inside of the next adjacent ring, means releasably connecting said supports to said base whereby the number of rings attached to said base may be changed, and an enclosed engaging member having two elongate sides generally parallel but spaced apart a distance less than the inside diameter of the rings and which can be inserted through all of the rings and disengaged by manipulation of the rings and engaging member. 